Girls from Reiche Elementary School in Portland participated in a Tuesday practice as part of the 10-week "Girls on the Run" program, which serves students from third through eighth grade and focuses on building self-esteem and empowerment. They will participate in a 5k in June at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds.

FIRST, A DISCUSSION, THEN SOME EXERCISE... THE "GIRLS ON THE RUN PROGRAM" PUTS WORDS INTO ACTION. THIS AFTERNOON, GIRLS FROM THE REICHE SCHOOL IN PORTLAND LEARNED ABOUT BULLYING. THEN, THEY LACED UP THEIR SNEAKERS FOR A PRACTICE RUN...ALL LEADING UP TO A 5-K. THE TEN WEEK PROGRAM FOR GIRLS IN THIRD THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE FOCUSES ON BUILDING SELF- ESTEEM AND EMPOWERING GIRLS. "you never know who you are reaching, even if you have a girl that you don't think is taking in what you are saying she'll come back and surprise you at a practice and almost bring you to tears with something that she has taken home or taken to the school yard and used to her advantage in life and you know that she's not going to forget that" :16 Meghan "whats your favorite part about it?" "Learning how to be positive because once you get that into you you're going to be able to stop bullying whenever it happens, you're going to be able to realize when it starts" :15 WMTW NEWS 8 IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE GIRLS ON THE RUN 5-K, WHICH IS SUNDAY JUNE EIGHTH AT THE CUMBERLAND